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No. 622,924. Patented Apr. II, |899. A. M. JENKINS.

TARGET TRAP.

(Application led June 28, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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No. 622,924. Patented Apr. Il, |899. A. M. JENKINS. TARGET TRAP.

(Application led June 28, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Il odal.)

No. 622,924. Patented' Apr. n, |899.

A. M.,.1ENKms.

T-ARG ET TRAP.

(Alipuacion mea June 2s, 1e97.\ (no Model.) a sheets-sheet 3.

'l Nrrnn 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. JENKINS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND TARGET COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TARG ET-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming' part Gf Letters Patent NO. 622,924, dated. April 1`1, 1899.v Application lcd June 28,1897. Serial No. 642,588. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Target-Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which Io it appertains to make use the same.

My invention relates to target-traps forl throwing artificial birds or disks and`is an improvement on the magazine-trap shown and described in my prior patent, No. 540,318, of

June 4, 1895, to which patent reference is made for the features not described herein.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means for rotating the throwing-arm of the trap,'for notifying the 2o operator if the speed of rotation is correct, and f or releasing the target wheneverdesired and in such manner that its flight shall be indeterminate.

The invention consists in the novel combi'- 2 5 nations of parts by which these objects are attained, as hereinafter fully described, and definitely enumerated in the claims.

The drawings clearly illustrate my invention.

3o Figure l is a side elevation of a target-trap, the upper part of the target-magazine and the lower portion of the operating mechanism being omitted. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base and the driving mechanism.

Fig. is an enlarged detail View of the crankhanger at the lower rear corner of said base. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the gears carried on the top of said base, being a vertical section on the line 4 I of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa plan 4o of a portion of the releasing mechanism, be-

ing a substantially horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. I. Fig. 6 is a substantially vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 and shows the releasing-eccentric and its pawl.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the inner end of the target-arm, showing the target-releasing dog and the speed-signal. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the pawl for connecting the releasing-eccentric and of the end of the 5o armature-lever which engages with thatpawl,

respectively.

Similar letters of reference designate similar parts in the several figures.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents a horizontal base suitably supported by legs d a and a. A clevis-shaped frame B for supporting the throwingarm and re'- leasing mechanism is pivotally supported at its lower forward end b by a journal-pin b, extending into lugs d2, projecting' upward 6o from the base, and atits rear en'd by the bar b2, adj ustably bolted to said base.

Journaled in the forward end of the frame B is the approximately vertical shaft C. This shaft carries at its upper end the target-throwing arm D. A target-magazine E is carried by the upper forward end of the frame B in such position that it drops the targets into the throwing-arm substantially in line with the axis of said arm, as described in said prior 7o patent, and a suitable latch mechanism is provided at the lower end of the magazine for governing the passage of targets yto the target-arm. The construction of the magazine, latch mechanism, and throwingarm is the same as that described in my said prior patent, and the description thereof will not be here repeated.

The mechanism by which the target-arm is rotated is as follows: On the shaft C, near its 8o lower end, is secured the bevel-pinion c, which meshes with the vertical bevel-gear F, journaled on the said journal-pin b. Asprocketwheel G is also journaled on this pin and is rigidly connected with Jthe bevel-gear. A sprocket-chain H connects the wheel G with a sprock et-wheel I, secured to the crank-shaft z', which is journaled in a hanger J. Cranks t" and pedals 112 furnish means for driving the sprocket by a bicycle movement. 9o

The hanger J has the sleeves j and j', which surround abrace-rod K,the otherend of which terminates in a sleeve la, surrounding the journal-pin b. Nuts la' and k2, on opposite sides of the sleevej', provide means for adjusting 95 the tension on the sprocket-chain by moving the hanger, and with it the crank-shaft, toward or from the pin b. Near the lower end of the hanger is formed a slot jg, which lies across a slot a3, formed in a bracket a4, exroo tending, preferably, integrally from the leg ct and having attached to it the braces a5. The

slot a3 is made in the are of a circle about the Zontal bracket a6,which is secured to or formed as a part of the base A.

I will now describe the speed-signal and its method of operation. Secured by an arm m to the inner end of the target-arm and eX- tending in the opposite direction to the arm is the plate M, which is preferably of such weight as to balance the arm in. its rotation. An arm N is pivoted at one end to the under side of this plate and carries at the other end the gong n. The arm N is capable of oscillating a short distance about its pivot between the faces of the blocks 'n' and n2, rigid with the plate M. A hole extends through the block n2, in which lies the compressionspring n3,which bears against the arm N and is adjusted by the screw n4. Astationary hammer in the form of a bracket-lug lysis secured to the frame B in such position that as the target-arm rotates and the plate M comes around the gong n, if in one of its extreme positions, would strike the bracket-lug, but if in the other extreme position would clear it. The gong tends under the action of centrifugal force to move away from the shaft C and into position to strike the said bracket-lug, and

this tendency is counteracted by the spring n3. It is thus apparent that by adj listing the spring 'n.3 the gong may be madeto strike against the bracket-lug when a given speed of rotation of the shaft C is attained. In practice the gong will j ust barely touch at the desired speed of rotation and will produce a l'ow singing noise, which will increase or diminish if 'the speed varies. The operator is thus enabled to keep the target-arm rotating at just the desired speed.

I will now pass to the description of the mechanism for releasing the target. 'This mechanism is set in operation electrically from any desired point and operates to cause the release of the target from an intermediate position of the arm.A The target, when fed to the target-arm D,is held in place against rubber posts d by the shoe P. This shoe is rigidly attached to the rock-shaft p, extending through the bottom of the target-arm, and on the lower end of which is the arm p'. This arm terminates in the barrel p2, which incloses the spring p3 and has projecting from one end the buffer-head p4, pressed outward by the spring p3, and limited in its movement by the pin p5, projecting from it into the slot 196 in the barrel. A set-screw p7 at the other end of the barrel adjusts the spring.

underside of the target-arm, pivoted at q, is the trigger Q. This trigger has a lug q', projectin g upward from it,which stands between the lugs d and d2, depending from the bottom of the target-arm. These lugs cooperate On the' to limit the oscillation of the trigger. This trigger has a balance-weight q2 at one end and a shoulder g3 upon its under side, adapted to engage the buffer-head p4. A spring Q4 tends to draw the trigger int-o the position shown in the drawings, where the shoulder g3 engages with the buffer-head and holds the shoe P against the targeton the arm. In the operation ot the trap when mechanism, hereinafter described, causes the end 15 of the trigger Q to be forced away from the shaft C the shoulder Q3 releases the buffer-head, and the shoe I is free to be swung aside by centrifugal force.

Secured to the shaft() is the gear-pinion c, which meshes with the gear-wheel R, journaled on the stud b4, which projects from the frame B. This gear-wheel is continuously revolved in the direction of the arrow. Surrounding the stud b4 beneath the gear-wheel is the eccentric S, which is normally stationary, but which may be caused to revolve with the gear-wheel R by the following mechanism: In aradial slot s in the eccentric is pivoted at s the pawl s2. A spring s3, contained in a recess in the end of the pawl and bearing against the end of the slot, tends to force the nose si of the pawl into one of the spaces r between the spokes r of the gear-wheel R, and thereby compel the eccentric to rotate with the gear-wheel. Such tendency is normally prevented bythe nose t of the armature-lever t engaging with the lip S5 on the end of the pawl. When, however, the electromagnetT is energized, it attracts the armature t2, and this swings the levert slightly and withdraws the nose from the lip S5, whereupon the spring s3 causes the pawl-nose to project into one of the spaces r', and, a spoke of the gear-wheel impinging against the side of the pawl-nose, the eccentric is caused to rotate with the gear.

In operation the electric current through the magnet ceases shortly after the lip S5 has cleared the nose t of the armature-lever, and therefore the eccentric makes a complete revolution with the gear-wheel. At the end of the revolution the beveled lip 35 comes under the nose t of the armature-lever and withdraws the pawl from the wheel and releases the eccentric,` which comes to rest.

The face of the pawl-nose s4 is beveled, as shown, on its under side, while the under side /of the spokes r are beveled on their rear sides 1I. e., the side' from which they normally rotate. These bevels cooperate to allow the gear-wheel to rotate in the reverse direction without operating the eccentric, whereby no releasing can take place if the operator should happen to drive the .machine in the wrong direction.

Surrounding the eccentric S is the strap s6, from which leads a rod 37, which is connected with a T-lever U. This T-lever is pivoted to the frame B and is connected at its upper end with the latch to the target-magazine by means of the rod u, whereby a revolution of IOO IIO

the eccentric S allows a target to descend from the magazine, the operation of the latch being explained in my said prior patent.

The T end of the lever U engages with one end of a lever u', pivoted to the frame B, the other end of which extends into a segmental groove o, contained in a vertically-slidable sleeve V, which surrounds the shaft C. This sleeve and its attached parts constitute the tripping mechanism for operating the releasing trigger hereinbefore described. An outward movement of thelower end of the-lever U, under the action of the eccentric, causes the lever u to raise the sleeve V. This sleeve carries at its upper enda boss or lug v', which when the sleeve is raised comes into'the path of the end Q5 of the trigger Q and in the rotation of the arm D forces the said end away from the shaft C and releases the shoe P, as hereinbefore explained. A spring W, connected to the lever U and to the frame, as shown, steadies theoperation of said lever.

To prevent dam age, in case the lug o should be directly beneath the trigger Qwhen it rose and should strike the bottom face of that trigger, I make the connection between the rod 37 and the T-lever yielding. vThis is accomplished by the following arrangement: A-

yoke u2 is pivoted to said T-lever at its lower end, and through the arms 11.3 and 'w1 of this yoke the rod S7 passes. A helical spring 58 surrounds the rod between the arm's of the yoke and bears at one end against the arm n4 and at the other against the nuts 11,5, which are ad justably secured to the rod s" and the other side of which normally. bears Aagainst the arm its.

In order that it may be impossible to calculate the position of the arm D at the time of release of the target and so estimate the course the target will take, I give an oscillation of the sleeve V, which causes the releasing-lug o' to 'occupy varying positions as it rises and impinges against the side ofthe trigger Q. This oscillation is imparted by means of the pitman Y, which connects a crank-pin r2 on the wheel R with an arm o3, which is journaled on the shaft C and is rigidly connected with the lug o2, depending from the sleeve V. The distance from the axis of the sleeve to the point 04, where the pitman is pivoted to the arm, being greater than the distance from the center of the wheel R to the crank-pin r2, as shown, the wheel end of the pitman will travel in a circular path with the wheel R, and the other end and the arm t3 will oscillate back and forth. The amount of oscillation will depend upon the relative proportion of the two distances mentioned. There is sufficient play at the two pivots of the pitman Y to allow the sleeve V to rise the required distance without binding.

In practice the target-trap is placed in a pit and a shield erected to protect the operator. The operator sits on the saddle and revolves the target-arm at the desired speed. In this position he can easily reach the target-magazine with his hands, and thus keep it supplied with targets, which are conveniently disposed about him. An electric button, which may be located near the marksman, is pressed when desired, and when the target-arm comes around to the front the target is thrown, the position of the arm, and hence the course of the targets Hight', being undetermined, depending upon the position which the lug o happens to occupy when it acts upon the trigger Q.

Having described my invention, I claiml'. In a target-trap, in combination, a suitable base, a journal-pin carried thereby, a frame, a sprocket-wheel and a bevel-gear, all on said journal-pin, said sprocket-wheel and bevel -gear being connected to revolve together, and said frame being independently adjustable about said pin, a substantially vertical shaft j ournaled in said frame and having at its lower end a bevel-gear meshing with the bevel-gear on the journal-pin, a targetarm connected with said shaft, a second suitablyjournaled sprocket-wheel, means for driving sam,e,and a sprocket-chain connecting said two sprocket-wheels, substantially as described. 4

2. In a target-trap, in combination, a suitable base, a journal-pin b' carried thereby, a frame, a sprocket-wheel, a bevel-gear and a sleeve, all on said pin, said sleeve, frame and sprocket wheel being each adapted to be turned on said journal-pin independently of the other, and said bevel-gear and sprocketwheel being connected to revolve together, a

rod extending from said sleeve and connected at its other end with a hanger, a second or driving sprocket-wheel carried by said hanger,

Vmeans for driving said second sprocket-wheel,

a sprocket-chain connecting said two sprocketwheels, a substantially vertical shaft carried by said frame and having at its lower end a bevel-gear meshing with the bevel-gear on the journal-pin, and a target-arm secured to said shaft, whereby the position of the target-arm or the position of the driving-sprocket or both may be changed while preserving the driving connection between said sprocket and the target-arm, substantially as described.

3. In a target-trap, in combination, a plate A, lugs a2 extending therefrom, a journal-pin ZJ carried by said lugs, aframe B journaled on said pin between the lugs d2, a shaft C.

journaled in said frame on an aXis which intersects the journal-pin b', a gear-pinion con said shaft near its lower end, a rigidly-connected sprocket-wheel G and a gear-wheel F on said journal-pin between the lugs a2, said gear F meshing with the pinion c, a sleeve 7o surrounding the journalpin between the frame and the gear, a rod K projecting from said sleeve, a hanger carried at the end of said rod, a sprocket-wheel I carried by said IOO IIO

hanger, and a sprocket-chain H connecting the sprocket-wheels I and G, substantially as specified.

4. In a target-trap, in combination, a sup- 4 Scapa-1 lporting-base consisting of a plate and legs therefor, a sprocket-wheel G rotatably supported by said plate, a brace-rod K pivoted concentrically with said sprocketwheel, a hanger J secured to said brace-rod at its free end and being adjustable to and from its pivot, a bracket carried by one of the legs of said frame, a bolt adapted to clamp the hanger to the bracket in adjustable position, a sprocket-wheel I carried by said hanger, and a sprocket-chain H connecting the sprocketwheels I G, substantially as specified.

5. In a target-trap, the combination of a supporting-base, the sprocket-wheel G rotatably supported by the same, the brace-rod K pivoted concentrically with said sprocketwheel, the hanger J secured to said brace-rod and being adjustable to and from the pivot of the latter, said hanger having a slot jz, the bracket a4 carried by said supporting-base and having a slot a3 therein concentric with said sprocket wheel, the bolt js extending through said slots in the hanger and bracket and locking the same together, a sprocket-- wheel I carried by said hanger and a sprocketchain I-I connecting said sprocket-wheels IV and G, substantially as described.

6. In a target-trap, a base consisting of the plate A, the legs a a a', the bracket a4 carried by said leg a', and the braces a5 a5 leading from said bracket to the legs a a, in combination with a journal-pin supported by said plate A, a sprocket-wheel and bevel-gear on said journal-pin connected to revolve together, a sleeve on said journal-pin having a -brace-rod extending from it, a hanger secured to said brace-rod and to said bracket a4, the crank-shaft journaled in said hanger, the sprocket-wheel and cranks secured to said shaft, a sprocket-chain connecting said two sprocket-wheels, an approximately vertical shaft suitably supported and having a bevelgear at its lower end meshing with the bevelgear on the journal-pin, and a target-arm secured to said shaft,substantially as described.

7. In a target-trap, the combination of the supporting-base consisting of a plate A and the legs a CL 0.', the journal-pin h' carried by said plate,the sprocket-wheel G and the sleeve 7c surrounding said pin, the rod K projecting from said sleeve, the bracket a4 carried by said leg a', the hanger .I adjustably secured to said rod K at its lower end, means for securing said hanger to said bracket a4 in different positions, a sprocket-wheel I carried by said hanger, and a sprocket-chain II connecting said sprocket-wheels I and G, substantially as described.

8. In a target-trap, the combination of a supporting-base, the sprocket-wheel G rotatably supported by the same, the brace-rod K pivoted concentrically with said sprocketwheel, the hanger J -having a lug j through which said brace-rod passes, nuts 7c and k2 screwing on said brace-rod on each side of saidlug, said hanger having a slot n7'2 therein by which it may be secured to the frame in different positions'of adjustment toward or from the sprocket-wheel G, the sprocketwheel I carried by said hanger, and the sprocket-chain II connecting said wheels I and G, substantially as described.

9. In a target-trap, in combination, afrain'e, a revoluble target-arm carried thereby, a pivoted arm carried by said target-arm, a stop limiting the movement of said pivoted arm toward the axis of the target-arm and a spring opposing the movement of said pivoted arm away from the axis, and a stud and gong, one carried by the frame and the other by the said pivoted arm, and the two adapted to impinge under the action of centrifugal force when the speed of revolution of the target-arm is a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

10. In a target-trap, in combination, a`

frame, a revoluble target-arm carried thereby, a pivoted arm N carried by said targetarm, said arm N carrying the gong fn., a stop limiting the movement of said arm N toward the axis of the target-arm and aspring opposing themovement of said arm N away from said axis, and a stud b3 carried'by said frame, said gong being adapted to impinge against said stud when the centrifugal force is a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

11. In a target-trap, in combination, a revoluble target-arm, a plate M rigidly connected by said target-arm, an arm N pivoted at one end of the plate M, the gongn carried by said arm N at its other end, the blocks n and 91,2, said block n2 carrying the spring 'n3 and the vadjusting-nut n4, and a stud against which said gong is adapted to impinge when centrifugal force overcomes the spring n3 a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

12. In a target-trap, in combination, a target-arm, a revoluble shaft to which said target-arm is connected, mechanism normally idle for releasing a target on said arm, locking means for establishing connection between said mechanism and said revoluble shaft, whereby said shaft operates said mechanism to release a target, a spring and an electromagnetic device, one tending to throw said locking means into action, and the other to hold them out of action, substantially as dcscribed.

13. In a target-trap, in combination, a target-arm, a revoluble shaft to which said target-arm is connect.ed, a wheel R compelled to rotate when said shaft rotates, a loose eccentric adapted to operate mechanism to release a target on said arm, means for locking said wheel and eccentric, a spring and a lever, one tending to throw said locking means into action and the other to hold it out of action, and means for operating said lever, substantially as described.

14. In a target-trap, 'in combination, a target-arm, a revoluble shaft to which said target-arm is connected, a gear c on said shaft meshing with a gear R, a loose eccentric jour- IOO IIO

naled concentrically With said gear R and adapted to operate mechanism for locking eccentric and adapted to .lock said eccentric' to said Wheel, a spring tending to cause such locking and means for preventingthe same until desired, substantially as described.

16. In a target-trap, in combination, the Wheel R and means for rotating the same, said Wheel having spaces fr', the loose eccentric S, the eccentric-strap s6 and eccentric-rod S7 connected to mechanism adapted to release a target, the pawl s2 carried by said eccentric and having the nose s4 adapted to stand in one of the spaces r', the spring s3 tending to cause such operation, and the lever t engaging with said pawl and preventing such operation, the electromagnet T adapted to cause said lever t to release said pawl Whereby said eccentric and Wheel become locked together, substantially as described.

17. In a target-trap, in combination, a revoluble shaft C and/a target-arm revolved thereby, releasing mechanism on said arm and tripping mechanism slidable upon said shaft and oscillatable about the same and adapted to trip said releasing mechanism, a gear on said shaft meshing with a gear Ron another shaft, a pitman connecting said gear R with said tripping mechanism, the distance from the connection of the wheel R to the center of said Wheel being less than the distance from the connection of the pitman and releasing mechanism to the center of said shaft C,Where by rotation of said gear oscillates said tripping mechanism, substantially as described.

18. In atarget-trap, in combination, a revoluble shaft, a target-arm revolved thereby, a sleeve- V slidable upon said shaft, a lug fu on' said sleeve vadapted to engage with releasing mechanism and release a target on said arm, a gear c on said shaft, a gear R in mesh therewith, an arm o3 oscillatable about said shaft and rigidly connected with said sleeve V, a pitman connecting said arm fc3 and said gear R, the distance from the axis of the gear R to the point of connection of the pitman being less than the distance from the axis of the said shaft to the point of connection of the pitman and the arm o3, substantially as described.

19. In a target-trap, in combination, a revoluble shaft C and a target-arm revolved thereby, releasing mechanism on said arm and tripping mechanism slidable upon said shaft and oscillatable about the same and adapted to trip said releasing mechanism, a gear .on said shaft meshing with a gear R on. another shaft, a pitman connecting said gear R with said tripping m echanism, mechanism adapted to be operated by the rotation of said Wheel R for sliding said tripping mechanism into position for engagement with said releasing mechanism and means for connecting at Will said last-mentioned mechanism with said Wheel, substantially as described. l

20.' In a target trap, in combination, a throwing-arm D, a shoe P adapted to hold a ying target in said throwing-arm, a rockshaft p to which said shoe is secured, an arm p secured to said rock-shaft, a spring-pressed buffer-head p4 carried by said arm, and a trigger Q having a shoulder qsadapted to engage with said buffer-head, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR M. JENKINS. Witnesses:

E. L. THURsToN, ALBERT H. BATES. 

